The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-01-11
THE GOSPEL.
Elder wv. Naisbitt's DISGUISE
on Sunday Afternoon.
THE LAWS OF GOD AND OF MAN.
The Principle of Rendering Unto
Caesar the Things that Are Cesar's
and Unto God the Things That
Are Gods.


noon last, the services were begun by
the singing of the hymn commencing
Great God, attend while Zion sings.
Prayer by Elder Edward Snelgrove.
Singing by the choir of the hymn:
| How great the wisdom and the love.
| ELDER H. W. NAIsBIrT was pleased to
note the large congregation, gathered
to talk of and listen to the principles OF
the Saints most holy faith. The Saints
desired to know, and understand and
increase ia intelligence. There are all
grades of intelligence, according to
age and experience. The Saints had at
all times enjoyed greater or less
| degree of inspiration and revelation.
There were several principles yet I'M
known, even to those in advanced posi-
tons in the church, but there are others
which are known to every individual
member, in Earning which they have
been apt scholars. They had progressed
as children progressed in the schools;
they had advanced, step by step; and
according to the order of God which He
had ordained for the salvation and
exaltation of the human family. There
is no requis tie for the advancement of
one that is not necessary for all. The
highest and the lowest have to pass
through the same routine, and be subject
to the order and rule of God, in contradis-
tinctlon to the order and law of man. The
Almighty gave man dominion over the
earth and the creations thereof, but
there was no account in the history of
the creation of the world that man was
to exercise dominion over his fellow
over the animal and vegetable kingdoms
did not include the power to extermi-
nate any of the species upon the earth.
Yet all history shows that mans pas
sions had tended toward that end. The
American people were credited with
being the leaders in intellectually of all
other nations yet, the buffalo, which
once roamed the plains in countless
herds, were now almost extinct. This
was mentioned as an example OF, mans
having exceeded his powers and tran
scended the dominion given him over
the creatures of the earth. Usurping
men had increased with all generations.
In the Bible the rule of the Almighty
could be read of, and the various orders
through which his authority was mani
tested. AS the people of the earth
increased, the form of government was
improved and adapted to the increase.
Prophets, patriarchs and judges, were
ordained and appointed to govern and
control in the order of Gods govern
ment. The Israelites after having being
so governed, at length grew desiIous of
having king to rule over them; not
outstanding they had been educated to
the knowledge that God was King. The
disasters which would follow were
graphically portrayed to them; God
gave them king, in a sense of chastise-
ment. and IN their later history, the
disasters foretold which should be
theirs were full and complete. There
were righteous kings-David and Solo
mon, but 1t was nowhere recorded in
Holy Writ that this kingly rule was
according to Gods plans, though the
two named stood high in the favor of
the Lord. The kingly authority re-
manned until the IsraeIites were bIotted
out as nation. Transgression of rules
and authority always brought on the
transgressors calamity and punishment.
A new order was instituted when Jesus
came upon the earth-the rule of high
priesthood, that of Melchisedec; the
gospel rule, one of love and brother
hood, was laid down; the gospel was
one OF freedom, in which the agency of
man was acknowledged, though to Be
directed in the work Of perfecting Gods
work, and man was expected to render
willing service in furthering every
department of the priesthood of God.
The record of the early church showed
that the arbitrary rule of the past was
to be repealed. The spirit of love did
not. exist as strongly under the law as
under the gospel; it was given man to
overcome his passions and failings; it
was the power of God working within
the individual for good. When man
submitted to the ordinances of the
gospel, he was, indeed, free man; not
entirely free from all the weak supersti-
tons OF oldell times; yet he was free
and better. The principle, Render
unto Cesar the things that are Caesars,
and renjer unto God the things that
are Gods" was understood to mean
that there were things which belonged
Cesar and things which belonged to
OOui THESE were rules OF law and the
order OF the gospel. Paul strictly
observed the law. though he resisted it
by every legal process. He did not suf-
fer passiyely and tamely, but manfuIly
stood up and yovereame the terrors of
punishmentS. Every time he Submitted
TO the sentences of his enemies, he did
so without violating his integrity to tie
requirements of the gospel. He was
just as much of a hero, man and a
Christian in standing up for his rights
before the courts and contending with
the powers that were, arraying himself
in opposition to the municipalities and
powers, as when he was preaching and
expounding the principles of the gospel.
Such IS bird 'saeye view of the ancient
gospel. = -
Coming down to the present age, we
find similar evidences. However abso-
Lutte law may be, because of its author
ity, yet it contains charac' eistics which
pertained 10 the old-time laws. Ifused
to Cypress, then amen to the AUTHORITY
Of the priesthood so usingit. Law
eminent and order were the fundam,4
tai principles of the gospel. Whilecsltec